A $130 million loan is being negotiated with the BCIE to begin, at the end of the year, improvement works at the port of Corinto.
Representatives from the National Port Company (EPN) explained to Elnuevodiario.com.ni that in addition to the terminal's modernization plan, which would "... double the arrival of cargo ships ... an investment of approximately $70 million will be made in modernizing the port, only in what corresponds to equipment, and that the project will take about two years."
For the period 2017/18 81 cruise ships are expected to arrive in the country, which represents a 14% increase over the previous season.
The increase in arrivals of cruise ships is combined with greater availability of infrastructure and reduction in landing times, since, according to the National Port Company have "...new docks allow tourists arriving in San Juan del Sur on a cruise to disembark in an hour and a half, which is half the time it took before ...".
The wharf in the Southern Caribbean of Nicaragua will now have the capacity to receive international commercial vessels.
Authorities from the National Port Company explained to Elnuevodiario.com.ni that "... the old wharf of Corn Islands had already exhausted its useful life, which is why the ships had difficulty docking in that zone".
The 70% growth in cargo movement through the port of Corinto in the last five years reflects the imperative need for Nicaragua to invest more in port infrastructure.
Even though container movements through Nicaraguan ports are still significantly less than that through other ports in the region, the increase in sea freight traffic and its growth potential compel the government and the sectors involved to think about options for increasing port capacity.
The Nicaraguan private sector has proposed that the operation of the port be awarded in concession or a public-private scheme used in order to improve the efficiency and management of the port terminal.
Representatives of the Higher Council of Private Enterprise (Cosep) analyzed the scheme under which the Honduran port terminal in Cortes operates, which was granted in concession to the Central American Port Operator (OPC), to evaluate if it would be feasible to replicate the model in Port Maroon.
The National Port Company has announced that for the second half of the year it plans to invest $11 million in improving recreational facilities in Xiloá, La Boquita, Pochomil, El Trapiche and Granada.
In addition to carrying out improvement works in recreation centers in the tourist areas which have the greatest competition, spokesmen for the National Port Authority explained that they also foresee invest in improvements in the ports of Sandino, Corinto, Salvador Allende, Arlen Siu and El Bluff.
The state port company has announced it will begin construction of the fourth stage of Puerto Salvador Allende with a $36 million investment.
From a statement issued by the National Port Company of Nicaragua:
The Executive President of Empresa Portuaria Nacional Virgilio Silva, presented to domestic and foreign businessmen details of the progress of the fourth stage of Puerto Salvador Allende.
A terminal in Bilwi, Puerto Cabezas, would streamline logistics of cargo which currently comes through the ports of Limon in Costa Rica and Cortés in Honduras.
If the plans of the National Port Company (EPN) are realised, the operator of the entire logistics system that involves moving goods through Nicaragua's northern Caribbean could significantly improve their times.
It has been announced that nine islands with a diameter of 80 meters will be constructed, all of them in Bluefields Bay, in order to generate tourism in the area.
Authorities at the National Port Company announced that they will also be carrying out dredging work in the bay so that boats up to six meters deep can enter there.
The growth of the Nicaraguan economy is making clear the disadvantage of the country's current dependence on the ports of neighboring countries.
Although improvements have been made to the port infrastructure at Arlen Siu, this single terminal is not enough for a country whose economy is growing at the pace it is in Nicaragua. The idea of building a port terminal of great magnitude on the Caribbean coast is something that the private sector has been insisting on, as an imperative to reduce dependence on Costa Rican ports and through this improve their export competitiveness factor.
The National Port Company has announced it will invest $5 million in the modernization of the tourist port of San Jorge, on Lake Nicaragua.
From a statement issued by the National Port Authority:
The CEO of the National Port Authority said the project at the Port of San Jorge includes expanding the current breakwater, making another breakwater parallel to it measuring 350 meters long, and dredged to a depth of five meters so that there will not be any further problems with sedimentation.
From May 19th - 22nd representatives of the port industry in the region will meet in Nicaragua.
Representatives of the port industry in the region will meet in Nicaragua from 19 to 22 May at the XXXVI Port Meeting of Central America.
During the event, there will be an exchange of ideas and experiences on matters relating to ports.
In addition, "the advances of technology on ports, organizational and legislative improvements, modernization, innovation, compliance with international standards, and the environment" will be analyzed.
With an investment of $35 million the plan is to build a shopping center with movie theaters, a convention center and a hotel in Puerto Salvador Allende.
According to Virgilio Silva, CEO of the National Port Enterprise (EPN) , the construction of a shopping center with cinemas in Managua Malecon is very close to completion. Documentation has been formalized with Arab investors to develop the project which also includes the construction of a convention center and a hotel.
An expansion will be carried out of the port of San Juan del Sur in order for it to have four cruise ships docking at the same time and add infrastructure to cater to tourists.
According to Rodrigo Castro, an official from Empresa Portuaria Nacional in San Juan del Sur, this project aims to diversify services and will favor a much faster attention to tourists and embarking and disembarking.
With $22 million the fishing port of Puerto Salvador Allende will be modernized and a marina, heliport, and shopping center with cinemas constructed.
This was announced by Virgilio Silva, CEO of the National Port Company (EPN). "The harbor, which is 1300 meters long, 10 meters wide and 10 deep, will be able to accept boats weighing up to 15 thousand tons ..." reported Elnuevodiario.com.ni.